Athens

The Capital of Greece is the city of the Olympic idea, the city of culture, of science and commerce. A city with ancient monuments lice Acropolis, the inimitable ancient monument and landmark of Greece, museums, lively tradition districts like Plaka and numerous sights. These are some of the reasons that make Athens worth Visiting.

Getting Around : The Athens International Airport is located 27 Kms northeastern of Athens and can be rapidly accessed via a six-lane motorway and public transport - express airport bus on a 24 h basis.

As you begin to explore Athens, you may find it helpful to look up to the Acropolis, west of Syntagma Square, and to Mount Likavitos (Lycabettus), to the northeast as a landmark. Think of central Athens as an almost perfect equilateral triangle, with its points at Syntagma (Constitution) Square, Omonia (Harmony) Square, and Monastiraki (Little Monastery) Square, near the Acropolis. Flanking the Parliament Building is Athens largest Park, the National Garden, West of Syntagma Square, at the foot of Monastiraki Square lies the Ancient Agora (Market) and the Plaka.

Athens is located in the Prefecture of Attica. Athens transportation system is good and easy. The Athens metro consists of three lines covering a considerable part of the Attica region.

The Tram network connects the centre of Athens (Syntagma Square) to the southern (coastal) suburbs. The suburban Railway (Known as Proastiakos) accommodates travel to / from Athens and the "Eleftherios Venizelos" Athens International Airport, with seven stops along the line.

All taxis are yellow and equipped with a metre displaying the fare. Athens is also served by a network of diesel buses, natural gas buses and electric trolley buses.

Attractions

Acropolis : A splendid religious complex, the Acropolis consists of Several temples, which were built by the world's first democracy during the 5th Century BC. The most majestic building of all is the Parthenon, a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena. The Parthenon became the paragon of Classical Greek architecture. A small museum features an outstanding collection of ancient Greek Sculptures. Besides the Parthenon is the Erechtheion, immediately recognizable for its much photographed Caryatids, the six maidens who take the place of Columns.

Syntagma Square : The square that forms the heart of modern Athens is home to the Parliament building, built in 1840 as a Royal Palace. The square is a central point to access all the major attractions of Athens, particularly "museum mile".

Ancient Agora : Clustered below the Acropolis is the remains of the Agora, ancient Athens commercial and civic centre, where once walked and talked the great Philosophers Socrates and Plato. The area is littered with the ruins of numerous ancient buildings, including the Dionysos Theatre. (the worlds oldest theatre where great plays by Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides were first performed). One building that has been restored is the 200 BC Stoa of Attalos (a stoa is a long, low roofed promenade which served as a combination law court, municipal office and shopping arcade in classical Greece). The reconstructed building now has a museum on its ground floor containing artefacts covering 5000 years of Athenian history.

Plaka : Plaka is Athens best preserved 19th Century neighbourhood, with charming narrow streets, lively taverns, tourist shops, cafes and beautiful restored mansions. Plaka is under the Acropolis.

Tower of the Winds : It is called the Clock of Andronikos Kyrrhestes (Horologion). Its eight sides are oriented to the eight points of the horizon, which correspond to the eight winds whose names and symbols are carved out of the upper portion.

National Archaelogical Museum : The Museum displays finds from all parts of the ancient Greek world, which date from Neo-lithic times to the last years of the Roman Empire.

Lycabettos Hill : Lykabettos hill or the "hill of wolves" is situated in the centre of Athens, at an altitude of 277m. You can follow the path and go all the way up the hill on foot, or take the cable car from Kolonski. There you'll see the beautiful St Georges church and enjoy the magnificent view of Athens.

Others : Athens City tour, Odeon of Pericles, Theatre of Herod Atticus (The Herodion), Anafiotika.

Excursions

Delphi : At the ancient site of Delphi, where the Greeks once consulted the Oracle about the future, there's a small round sculpture. It's known as the omphalos - the cosmic belly button. The Greeks believed that Delphi was the very center of the world - the place where everything came into being. Like at Olympia, games were held at Delphi, known as the Pythian games. The temple of Apollo dominates the center of the sanctuary's enclosure. There are also the remains of the theatre, the Gymnasium and the temple of Athena Pronoia. Located 180 Kms from Athens, Delphi takes about 3 hours by road to reach.

Cape Sounion - Temple of Poseidon : Cape Sounio on the southeastern of Attica (69 Kms from Athens) is linked with one of the most beautiful classical monuments the temple of Poseidon. The temple of Poseidon was built between 444 and 440 BC. The temple has 6 Doric columns on short sides and 13 on long, from which only 15 still stand today.

Olympia : One of the most important sanctuaries of antiquity, dedicated to the father of the gods Olympian Zeus. Olympia is the birthplace of the Olympic games, which were first held here in 776 BC to honor Zeus.
Olympia has been inhabited since prehistoric times but it only took its final form in the 5th Century BC with the impressive temple of Zeus and other impressive ancient buildings like the Hippodrome where ancient horse races were held.

Cruises to Hydra, Poros & Aegina : The Saronic group of islands are all within an hour or two of Piraeus by boat, making them ideal